Ultraslow light and nondegenerate phase conjugation-based real-time, non-invasive, in-vivo deep-tissue optical imaging apparatus, photodynamic therapy apparatus, optical imaging method and photodynamic therapy method
AssigneeGwangju Institute of Science and Technology
InventorByoung Seung Ham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a method which can significantly increase the signal-to-noise ratio of an ultrasound-modulated optical signal by overcoming the shallow depth problem of in vivo optical imaging in existing optical imaging by use of a quantum optical phenomenon based on ultraslow light and nondegenerate phase conjugation and which can be applied directly not only to medical optical imaging, but also to medical photodynamic therapy, through slow light amplification of phase conjugate waves.
Claims10
A noninvasive, in vivo deep-tissue optical imaging apparatus based on ultraslow light and nondegenerate phase conjugation, the apparatus comprising:
- a light wave generating unit configured to transmit light to a target region;
- an ultrasound generating unit configured to transmit ultrasound to the target region;
- a light condensing unit configured to condense ultrasound-modulated light reflected from the target region;
- and
- a quantum processing unit configured to generate nondegenerate phase-conjugated light corresponding to the ultrasound-modulated light, wherein the quantum processing unit comprises:
- an optical medium that generates the ultraslow light and the nondegenerate phase conjugation;
- first and second light pumping means configured to allow two pumping lights to be incident to the optical medium, respectively;
- and
- a light control unit configured to control the ultrasound-modulated light and the nondegenerate phase-conjugated light, wherein the light control unit comprises an optical splitter configured to collect the nondegenerate phase-conjugated light to image the target region.
A noninvasive, in vivo deep-tissue photodynamic therapy apparatus based on ultraslow light and nondegenerate phase conjugation, the apparatus comprising:
- a light wave generating unit configured to transmit light to a target region;
- an ultrasound generating unit configured to transmit ultrasound to the target region;
- a light condensing unit configured to condense ultrasound-modulated light reflected from the target region;
- and
- a quantum processing unit configured to generate nondegenerate phase-conjugated light corresponding to the ultrasound-modulated light,
- wherein the nondegenerate phase-conjugated light is transmitted from the light condensing unit to the target region so as to be focused on a target substance present in the target region, and
- wherein the quantum processing unit comprises:
- an optical medium that generates the ultraslow light and the nondegenerate phase conjugation;
- first and second light pumping means configured to allow two pumping lights to be incident to the optical medium, respectively;
- and
- a light control unit configured to control the ultrasound-modulated light and the nondegenerate phase-conjugated light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.